civilized ku # 2392 / diptych # 14 ~ prettiness / pettiness - foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds

Northern Orchard ~ Peru, NY - in the Adirondack Park • click to embiggenNorthern Orchard ~ Peru, NY - in the Adirondack Park • click to embiggenMuch has been written here on The Landscapist regarding seeing/vision. IMO, the topic garners and holds interest for many Landscapist followers because they desire, in their picture making, to get beyond the confines and staleness of the ubiquitous seen-it-before, camera club cliché.

Some visitors have their interest piqued by my pictures, some by my words, and yet others by both. Then there are the words uttered / written by those (other than me) whose quotes I present from time to time. It is in that vein that I present the following quotes, which I believe have great relevance for those who are in pursuit of simple/plain seeing ....

Do not be caught by the sensational in nature, as a coarse red-faced sunset, a garrulous waterfall, or a fifteen thousand foot mountain... avoid prettiness - the word looks much like pettiness - and there is but little difference between them. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

This benefit of seeing...can come only if you pause a while, extricate yourself from the maddening mob of quick impressions ceaselessly battering our lives, and look thoughtfully at a quiet image...the viewer must be willing to pause, to look again, to meditate. ~ Dorothea Lange

IMO, the Emerson quote has relevance, re: seeing, simply because, if your seeing is piqued only by the visually obvious "grand and glorious", chances are very good that you will be blinded by that light (as well as "the light") and, consequently, miss the rest of what the world as to offer. Or, as John Szarkowski stated ...

Photography is a contest between a photographer and the presumptions of approximate and habitual seeing. The contest can be held anywhere...

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the contest can truly be held anywhere - not just in the shadow of the iconic sunset, waterfall, mountain, et al.

If you're having trouble escaping from the clutches of the drug addicted like state of picturing only the iconic "grand and glorious", you might try pretending (if necessary) that you are a practicing member of a Christian sect and further pretend that you are giving up such picture making for Lent ... a Lenten season which lasts for, say, 6-12 months. Consider it a time spent in picture making Purgatory, suffering a penance for which you will later be amply rewarded, seeing/vision wise.

During that time spent in Purgatory, pass the time practicing Dorothea Lange's advice to "extricate yourself from the maddening mob of quick impressions ceaselessly battering our lives" - I can only imagine what she might think of today's media saturated culture - "and look thoughtfully at a quiet image ... pause a while, look again, and meditate" at/on what your eyes behold, not only in "quiet" pictures but also in the "quiet" world around you. With practice and perseverance, you might be surprised at what you begin to see.

And remember, picturing making wise (and in life) ...

Whosoever would be a (wo)man, must be a nonconformist....A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds....To be great is to be misunderstood. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Comments

[Don]

Or, you could grab your camera and go out and enjoy yourselve.